The IRS Announces the ‘Taxpayer Bill of Rights’

Effective June 10, 2014, American taxpayers enjoy their own “Bill of Rights.” This development isn’t really anything new, but it sets a framework to (hopefully) balance the scales more in favor of the taxpayer.

The “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” is part of the updated IRS Publication 1, “Your Rights as a Taxpayer,” which summarizes your rights related to potential audits, collections and inquiries that may come from our favorite government agency. Ultimately, the IRS’ goal is to clarify and simplify the rules you can expect and the standards of behavior you need to follow.

“The Taxpayer Bill of Rights contains fundamental information to help taxpayers,” says IRS Commissioner John A. Koskinen. “These are core concepts about which taxpayers should be aware.

“Respecting taxpayer rights continues to be a top priority for IRS employees, and the new Taxpayer Bill of Rights summarizes these important protections in a clearer, more understandable format than ever before,” he says.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights was a goal of National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson since 2007, and her top priority in her most recent Annual Report to Congress.

“Congress has passed multiple pieces of legislation with the title of ‘Taxpayer Bill of Rights,’” Olson said.“However, taxpayer surveys conducted by my office have found that most taxpayers do not believe they have rights before the IRS and even fewer can name their rights. I believe the list of core taxpayer rights the IRS is announcing today will help taxpayers better understand their rights in dealing with the tax system.”

Your newly defined rights as a taxpayer are:

1. The Right to Be Informed

2. The Right to Quality Service

3. The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax

4. The Right to Challenge the IRS’ Position and Be Heard

5. The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum

6. The Right to Finality

7. The Right to Privacy

8. The Right to Confidentiality

9. The Right to Retain Representation

10. The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System

The publication initially will be available in English and Spanish, with updated versions coming soon in Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.

If you need a tax preparer who will work to ensure you pay no more than the correct amount of tax and will represent you before the IRS if necessary, contact us at Patrick & Robinson CPAs:Office@CPAsite.com or 904-396-5400.

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